Coastergram

Our family LOVES to snap pics and we obviously took to Instagram like moths to a flame, or me to a s'more...anyway...

The other day, a nifty little package came in the mail with these cool Sandstone coasters inside. Andy ordered them and gave them to our amazing nanny as a way to see the kiddos every day after our time with her ends *sniff*.

I think these are tres awesome and make fabulous gifts! The only caveat is, that the pics must come directly from Instagram, so you would have to jump on that train first, if you haven't done so already.

Visit Coastermatic here... and start putting drinks on your face.

Follow me @jfree2be and Andy @crownmoto.

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Skate Camp Day 3 - Go Big or Go Home.

So today Ry's skate Instructors informed me that he feels that learning the fundamentals are boring, and he wants to do the "big stuff." Those who have known me and my husband from childhood will probably find this funny...and somewhat reeking of karma. I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.

Mind you, this kid won't really skate down a small incline by himself yet, but in his mind, he's ready for the big time.

Here's another skill he can actually do himself...

We will be investing in Super-sized amounts of ice packs, children's tylenol and gauze.

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Skate Camp - Day One

This week marked one of the most anticipated camps of our Summer, Skateboarding Camp! Society Skate Shop in San Carlos runs this camp through the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department (a little shameless self promotion...from me, Leslie Knope) I also have to mention that this camp took no encouragement or bribery to get him to go, just an investment on our part for the right equipment...coupled with a zillion..."You'd better REALLY want this" since equipment-wise, we were starting from scratch.

The Skatepark itself is awesome. It was constructed with a lot of input from local skaters and named in memory of one of Redwood City's resident Pro Skaters, Phil Shao, who passed away in 1998 by way of an auto accident.

Big daunting bowls, rails, stairs, you name it. Ry is just psyched to learn to conquer the flat, but did spend a good part of lesson one learning how to fall "correctly" sliding down the sides of the giant bowl. His pads already look as if they have been annihilated by a full season of X Games training.

Here are a couple of pics from Day One... And a Vid. I'm totally impressed by how much they taught him in one day - he even rode down the stairs, solo!

Ramp assistance.

Learning to ride fakie in the big bowl!

First injury... "belly burn." I was also told that he got a "shark bite" that day. He was a champ and told me "I got hurt, but it didn't stop me from skateboarding." Attaboy.

Maybe someday he'll star in the sequel.

Until then...to be continued...

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Let it Glo... Finally, Great Customer Service!

For the record, I am not good at returning things. I have friends that return about as many items as they purchase. I am not the run-in-and-a-grab-a-few-in-a-couple-different-sizes-and-bring-back-what-doesn't work, Mom. Oh, and if it is a mail order return...consider that a wash. So, when I received my Night-Light order from one of the many "Sale" sites I subscribe to, and a part was broken, I became stressed. This came not too long after my Amazon Operation game debacle, so needless to say, I was having one of those "WHY CAN'T ANYONE GET ANYTHING RIGHT" moments. What makes matters even worse, is when your kids are extremely PSYCHED about the impending delivery.  

Now that I have 2 kids, I have to order many "cool" things in duplicate. When the charger for my Brontosaurus night light was shipped broken, I entertained the idea of just using the T-Rex charger for both lights and not bothering with the "return" that was destined to wear on my patience for the next several days weeks month. I knew that there was no way I could have opened these awesome gifts in front of them, to only disappoint one child by stuffing one back into the box to return it....so I waited.

Mommy, I LOVE these!

These fantastic lights came from Kinderglo. They come in different characters, change colors and have a nifty timer. They are TOTALLY safe, and never get hot (Hay Hay sleeps with his T-Rex under his arm). The Boogie-Man does not have a chance in our house with such illumination! Kinderglo has a fair 90 day warranty on their products, of which I was destined to fed-ex my return on day 89. I finally caved, and this past Saturday, I took some screen shots of my receipt as well as a pic of my Fed-ex shipment date as proof of my timeline. I also included some photos of the damaged charger. I explained how it was delivered broken and how I would have to pry it from the white-knuckled grasp of my child in order to send it back- if they would even take it. Important! Keep in mind the part about me contacting them on a Saturday. 

In ONE HOUR AND ONE MINUTE, I received this email (slightly edited, but you get the gist!)....

Hello,

I am sorry to hear that you are having a problem with our KinderGlo night light.  The factory sometimes sneaks some of these in on us. We will get you a new charger sent out. The newest have slightly longer contacts so the both should charge fine.

All the best

Angela

Did I need to box mine up and send back the WHOLE THING? NO! Did I need to beg and plead for them to believe me, or do something about it? NO! Did I need to even wait more than an hour and one minute on a Saturday? Um...NO!

All I can say is WOW! Please buy this product from Angela & Jon at Kinderglo. They rock and you will too when you buy these because your kids might just love you a little bit more - at least for a day. 

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

This Message Was Brought To You By the ABC Television Network

So, my one innate ability growing up - or Superpower - as I once called it, was my ability to memorize almost ANYTHING by sight or sound. As I got older, there was clearly kryptonite in my high school, as I seemed to have lost my special power. Like athletes have muscle memory, I have been fortunate enough to retain a small chunk of my ability in the form of remembering the words to possibly every commercial or sitcom theme from the 70s and 80s. Some of the major standouts were the ABC snippits in between Saturday morning cartoons, like Schoolhouse Rock, the Bod Squad and Time-for-Timer, "Look a wagon wheel!"

Recently, a friend of mine posted one on Facebook, and a light bulb went off in my head. "Holy Cow, I can watch my kids can benefit from the aweseomeness that was Saturday morning "educational" TV via You Tube!

My almost 2 year old obsesses over YUCK MOUTH, while my 5 year old loves Time-for-Timer's songs of "Hanker for a Hunk-of-Cheese" and "You are what you eat, from your head down to your feet.."

and I get to sing-a-long. Magic. I'm going to watch Family Ties now.

Love, Todd

When your child is in the thick of the proverbial terrible twos threes fours you wishfully think about what the future might hold, and how this is just a phase and things will inevitably improve. Sometimes, all that defines a 5 year old tantrum from a  2 year old tantrum, is some intense reasoning and a sprinkle of disrespect. As bath approached, I quickly shuffled Hay Hay to the tub (he is always pumped to bathe) and gave Ryder a post-dinner-test...

Me:  Ry, I am going to the tub, why don't you surprise me by putting your dishes in the kitchen, getting undressed and coming to the bath.

Moments later...thump thump thump, and a giant smile on a naked body emerges through the bathroom door and climbs into the tub...

Me: Wow!

Ry: Mommy I just started being good, right now!

Me: Hey Ry...why can't you ALWAYS be good?

Ry:  Mommy, sometimes, I'm good...sometimes I'm not so good...that is what makes me different.

Love, Todd Ryder

PLUG!

Title, lovingly hijacked from Todd Parr, an awesome Childrens Author/Illustrator who has graced our shelves for years with his thoughtful books, like, The Feelings Book, It's Okay To Be Different, and Underwear Dos and Don'ts.  He always ends his books with "Love, Todd." In the back of one of our books we noticed a photo with him and his dog, "Bully." Andy (see awesome husband & father) contacted him to hopefully contribute some artwork to one of our favorite charities, Rocket Dog Rescue. Todd Parr responded in record time...a whole 2-3 hours...with an emphatic YES! He is truly a gift to not only children, but our four-legged friends. Support this amazing rescue organization by purchasing a t-shirt, mug, apron, etc. etc. at their online store.  Oh, and a side note on the Awesome Andy... he donated his own time, fueled by his love for dogs, and created their online store. #Winning.

Fit to be Tied

JACKPOT! I think I hit the motherlode for neck ties for Alex P. Keaton Ryder!  Now, the Children's Place (our pre-tied tie go-to) offers great ties for kids, but is lacking selection. Ryder has recently secured a new job as a Ring Bearer, and wants to make a lasting impression. He has been begging for a bow tie. Thank you Etsy, and thank you Me and Matilda for what I believe to be my solution to all of the cheesy satin internet wedding options! Now, to pick the perfect one!

IN MY DREAMS!

I made this. I might be able to bust out some lego pieces...if I do, I'll tell you. Check out these awesome cakes on Ohdeedoh.

Oprah told me to live my best life...but

 

So, the person I want to be, would be heading to the craft store to make this awesome project- courtesy of Just a Night Owl blog. I WILL do it...after I clean my desk...which has piles of things dating back to last year.

 

I guess I will have to be satisfied with this creative decor - our bed post tie rack. Of course I can't take credit for this one either...obviously, it is designed by Ryder.

Free Art!

I am always oohing and ahhhing over many children's sites that have great artwork for sale. Another fabulous find! Feed Your Soul: the free art project. Here, you can Download FREE PRINTS from artists who are trying to promote their work during this tough economic time! Print 'em, frame 'em, love 'em, even switch 'em when you're bored. Done!

Creative Play Kitchens

This is sheer brilliance. The cost of a nice wooden play kitchen doesn't have to break the bank. A little creativity and elbow grease can customize an old end table into your toddler's newest imagination station!

Kindly borrowed from one of my favorite childrens blogs, Ohdeedoh...check it out!

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/inspiration/play-kitchens-for-a-cause-108955